🍼 Registering a Birth in Cardiff

If your baby was born in the Cardiff district, you must register the birth at the Cardiff Register Office. All registrations are by appointment only.

You can book online to visit:

• Main Office: Glamorgan Archives, Clos Parc Morgannwg, Leckwith (Monday–Friday)
• Community Locations:
  • Llandaff North & Gabalfa Hub – Mondays & Wednesdays
  • Cardiff Central Library – Tuesdays & the first Wednesday of the month
  • Ely & Caerau Hub – Wednesdays
  • St Mellons Hub – Thursdays

If you can’t come to Cardiff, you can register the birth at any Register Office in England or Wales. They’ll send the details to us, and we’ll complete the registration. Please note: this may delay when you receive the birth certificate.

To request a re-registration, register a stillbirth, or register the birth and death of a baby, please contact us directly.

These services require additional documentation before your appointment can be scheduled.

You can reach us by;

• Email: registrars@cardiff.gov.uk
• Phone: 029 2087 1680

We’ll guide you through the process and let you know which documents you’ll need to provide.

If Parents Are Married or in a Civil Partnership:

• Either parent can register alone, or both can attend together.
• Both parents automatically have parental responsibility.

If Parents Are Not Married or in a Civil Partnership:

• The mother can register the birth alone.
• To include the father details, they must attend the appointment with the mother.
• To include the second female parent’s details, they must attend the appointment with the mother and the treatment must have taken place at a UK licensed clinic with written consent provided by the mother and her female partner, such as a parenthood agreement
• Only those with parental responsibility can make legal decisions about the child’s care, education, and health.

ℹ️ It’s usually in your baby’s best interest to include both parents’ details. If this isn’t possible at the time, it may be added later.

Further information on registering a birth.

🌍 If You Don’t Speak English or Welsh

Please bring someone with you to help translate. This can be a friend or relative, but they must attend with you, not instead of you. Bring passports and marriage certificates if possible.

You’ll be asked to confirm all details during the appointment. Please check everything carefully before signing.

Bring:

• Baby’s full name, date, and place of birth
• Mother’s full name, date of birth, and place of birth
• Father/Parent’s details (if applicable)
• Identification (e.g. passport, driving licence)
• Supporting documents (e.g. marriage certificate)

You can buy a full birth certificate on the day of registration for £12.50 and you can pay by cash or card. This is needed for:

• Passport applications
• Child benefit
• School registration, etc.

If you order a certificate after the registration day, the cost may be higher.

Once the registration is signed, any corrections will incur a fee:

• £83.00 – if handled by the local office
• £99.00 – if referred to the General Register Office

⚠️ These fees are non-refundable, even if the correction is not approved.

You can apply to change your child’s forename(s) within 12 months of registration.

Fees:

• £44.00 (non-refundable)

What You Need:

• If baptised: a Certificate of Name Given in Baptism (from the church)
• If not baptised: a Certificate of Name Not Given in Baptism (from the register office)

Submit the certificate to the register office in the district where your child was born. You can do this in person or by post (contact the office for payment details).

New Certificates:

• A full certificate will show both the original and new names.
• A short certificate will show only the new name.
• The passport office requires a full certificate.

⚠️ Important Notes

• You must follow any Court Orders about naming your child.
• You cannot change your child’s surname in the birth register.
• You can only change forenames once.
• If your child was baptised, you cannot change the Christian names given at baptism.
• If applying after 12 months, you must provide proof that the name was changed within the first year.

•  Book an appointment
•  Bring ID and documents
•  Both parents attend if not married/civil partners
•  Check all details carefully before signing
•  Pay for certificates if needed